defensive over his adviser's promise a change before the second debate next week. with just 32 days now till the big vote, every move is critical. as abc's jake tapper reports. >> reporter: before a crowd of 12,000 in denver, the president tried to turn his opponent's polished debate performance into proof of his phoniness. >> when i got onto the stage, i met this very spirited fellow who claimed to be mitt romney, but the real mitt romney has been running around the country for the last year promising $5 trillion in tax cuts that favor the wealthy. >> reporter: but in the audience many of the president's supporters expressed bewilderment at his passive performance. >> i felt like he should have been more aggressive. >> i didn't understand his strategy and thought, you know, i wondered what was going on. >> reporter: sources tell abc news the president's strategy was a calculated decision not to risk appearing unpresidential by attacking romney on say that video insulting 47% of the country as irresponsible victims. his aides advised him to focus on policy, such as